philosophy bites

Thomas Pogge on Global Justice and Health

Thomas Pogge of Yale University discusses how richer countries can provide pharmaceutical products to poorer ones at reasonable prices and why they should do this as a matter of justice.

Listen to Thomas Pogge on Global Justice and Health

View a related video of Thomas Pogge speaking about Global Justice

Philosophy Bites is made in association with the Institute of Philosophy

Jeff McMahan on Killing in War

If someone is shooting at me in a war, surely it is morally acceptable for me to shoot back and kill him or her. Jeff McMahan of Rutgers University, author of  a new book on this topic, challenges the view that such killing is always acceptable.

We are very grateful to the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict (ELAC) for facilitating this interview.

Listen to Jeff McMahan on Killing in War

Brian Leiter on Nietzsche Myths

Friedrich Nietzsche is famous for many things, including the idea of  the  Übermensch, The Will to Power and his sceptical beliefs about truth that make him a precursor of much postmodern thinking. But according to Nietzsche expert Brian Leiter (the man behind the Leiter Reports Weblog) close reading of his work tells a different story.

Listen to Brian Leiter on Nietzsche Myths

Brian Leiter's Nietzsche Weblog

Sabine Döring on Emotion

What is an emotion? Is an emotion the same as a mood? What part should the emotions play in our life and in our understanding of what it is to be human? Sabine Döring discusses these questions with Nigel Warburton in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

Listen to Sabine Döring on Emotion

Paul Snowdon on Persons and Animals

What am I? This is the fundamental question that Paul Snowdon addresses in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. John Locke thought that continuity of memory was the basic criterion for determining whether or not we are dealing with the same person over time. Paul Snowdon, in contrast,  argues that we should see ourselves as primarily human animals.

Listen to Paul Snowdon on Persons and Animals

Michael Sandel on What Shouldn't Be Sold

Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel discusses the moral limits of markets in this, the 100th episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Sandel was the BBC 2009 Reith Lecturer. His four Reith Lectures are now available here.

Listen to Michael Sandel on Philosophy Bites on What Shouldn't Be Sold

You can also listen to Michael Sandel on Enhancement in Sport (a topic that is relevant to the 3rd of his Reith lectures) on an earlier episode of  Ethics Bites which we made for The Open University. Open2.net has a site with some audio and links about the 2009 Reith Lectures here.

Thomas Hurka on Pleasure

Pleasure is something we all seek. But should we? Is it the most important thing in life? Are all pleasures of equal value? Thomas Hurka investigates the concept of pleasure in this episode of Philosophy Bites.

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Kate Soper on Alternative Hedonism

Kate Soper believes that we need to rethink how we live in the light of impending environmental catastrophe. But the unexpected element in her thought is that alternative ways of living can be more enjoyable than consumerism. This leads to her notion of alternative hedonism.

Listen to Kate Soper on Alternative Hedonism

Chandran Kukathas on Genocide

Genocide is, at first glance, a straightforward term. We think we know what it is and why it is such an evil.  But, as  Chandran Kukathas of the London School of Economics argues in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast, perhaps the received definition of this term that emerged following the Second World War needs refinement.

Listen to Chandran Kukathas on Genocide

Alexander Nehamas on Friendship

Alexander Nehamas discusses the nature and value of friendship in this Philosophy Bites interview with Nigel Warburton. Nehamas maintains that understanding a friend can be like understanding a work of art.

Listen to Alexander Nehamas on Friendship